·January: TSJ Teach-In- There are approximately 54 co-sponsors of HB4268, but we need a Rauner veto-proof majority of 71 legislators to pass the bill. GEM groups are organizing to reach that threshold and begin to work on the IL Senate to make sure the bill will pass in both houses.

The popularity of an elected representative school board in Chicago (2 advisory referendums with close to 90% of voters in favor) and CPS’s chaos and damaging policies have spurred the Democrats to introduce House Bill 4268 to end mayoral control and give Chicagoans the same right as every other Illinois school district to elect our school board. HB 4268l has 5 chief sponsors in the Illinois General Assembly; 50 State Reps have signed on. We are beginning work with the State Senate. This is OUR BILL (school bd members elected from geographic districts representative of Chicago’s majority Black and Latino voters). Grassroots Education Movement (GEM—city-wide coalition of community orgs, parent orgs, TSJ, CTU) is working closely with Rep. Martwick who is chairing the ERSB task force. We need a veto-proof majority in the Assembly (71 votes) and comparable in the Senate.

WE CAN GET THIS BILL PASSED SPRING 2016! WE need to mobilize to make sure it happens.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO:

* attend town hall meetings across the city to show support and make sure the elected officials follow through (see schedule below. Sign up to testify in favor. MAIN THING TO DO NOW.

*hang a window sign at your house and work and distribute window signs (coming soon)

*help with phone baking (just one hour makes a difference)

*participate in a door-door canvas to mobilize support

*contact your elected official to ask if they are supporting. Thank them or tell them to get on board.

*come out to mass rallies in Chicago and Springfield when we need to demonstrate mass support